Jeep Trailblazer SS

[gottattooz]

Well I'm pretty sure i found my wiring issue. When i was welding the passenger side lower windshield flange that holds the gasket in place, some of the welding slag lit the insulation on fire at the passenger kick panel. Apparently it melted the sheath on some of the wires that feed into the passenger front door. The wiring for the passenger door includes power window, power mirror and turn signal in the mirror housing. The turn signal wire and the big orange power wire were fused together.

On a lighter note, i figured out a way to omit a small piece of chrome trim on the cowl between the door and hood to install a chrome led housing with 9 amber LEDs. Funny enough, i was frustrated with my wiring dilemma and i turned to the LED option as a distraction and ended up finding the burnt wiring when i was trying to see how to route the wiring from the cowl through the kick panel.

-Josh

[Palf70Step]

Glad you found the issue. I have done "distraction" work lots of times that have led me to the solving other issues.

[Ol Blue K20]

Glad you found it .the LEDs will look good

[gottattooz]

I finished mounting and wiring up the side turn signals, installed the carpet and interior. Cleaned the seats, dash and door panels, then took dad out for lunch in the Jeep. I noticed a little tire scrub on the front fender when turning and hitting a bump, so i trimmed an inch and a half of the bottom of the leading edge of the front fenders.

Then i went over to MadKidd's house to show him all the progress and give him some ideas for his Lincoln build.

It drives like a dream. I've still got a lot to do, but i definitely don't regret the nifty 2 swap idea. I did fix the right turn signal being on all the time, but apparently there's a separate issue with the left turn signal and the parking lights. I'll have to chase wires again, because when the left turn signal is on, the parking lights and left signal blink. When the parking lights are on, the left turn signal is on solid.

-Josh

[gottattooz]

I pulled the 3 roof bows out of the parts Jeep, sanded and painted them. I plan to use the extra bows to mount the over head consoles while adding strength to the roof, of course.

While i was painting the bows, the mail carrier came up the driveway and delivered the sound deadening material i ordered. I figured out the area and configured the best way to Tetris the pieces for the most complete coverage.

-Josh

[Ol Blue K20]

That looks good. I don't think you'll hear anything through the roof.

[gottattooz]

Today i dismantled the trailblazer doors and removed the wiring harnesses and the speakers. It turns out the front speakers are 6 inch subwoofers.

The rear trailblazer speakers are the same size as the Jeep front speakers. So I got to reuse the front brackets on the rear doors. Other than the passenger rear speaker not working, everything came out great. I put in a CD and dad and i were rocking out in the Jeep in the garage.

-Josh

[Madkidd007]

Originally Posted by gottattooz

Today i dismantled the trailblazer doors and removed the wiring harnesses and the speakers. It turns out the front speakers are 6 inch subwoofers.

The rear trailblazer speakers are the same size as the Jeep front speakers. So I got to reuse the front brackets on the rear doors. Other than the passenger rear speaker not working, everything came out great. I put in a CD and dad and i were rocking out in the Jeep in the garage.

-Josh

So technically the Front doors and dash speakers are run together when going to the amp Which is why they are mid drivers, makes aftermarket speakers interesting when getting the right ohms and the tears are indeed regular speakers. I was just thinking about the lights on the way home. Is your hazard switch on the dash or column?

[gottattooz]

Originally Posted by Madkidd007

So technically the Front doors and dash speakers are run together when going to the amp Which is why they are mid drivers, makes aftermarket speakers interesting when getting the right ohms and the tears are indeed regular speakers. I was just thinking about the lights on the way home. Is your hazard switch on the dash or column?

Hazards are on the column.

-Josh

[Madkidd007]

Originally Posted by gottattooz

Hazards are on the column.

-Josh

That makes me wonder. Play with the hazard switch. I know I’ve had them hang up before and engage partially makes the lights do some weird stuff.

[Ol Blue K20]

Those bulbs made a big difference.

[Ol Blue K20]

That's looking good, I can't wait to see color on it.

[mongocanfly]

Glad I've got my bodywork behind me...ive only got a few more pieces to paint..

[gottattooz]

So i went back to summit and noticed they have painted samples of the paint they sell. The color on the left is the sonic blue pearl I'm planning to use on the Jeep. The color to the right is cobalt blue metallic. I like the cobalt better, but i think the lighter blue will look better with the white pearl and look more period correct.

As the body work progresses forward from the left rear quarter panel, i had to remove the chrome strips and the wood grain decal, which was a pain. The white on the doors is factory original. The blue on the Jeep was a repaint color.

-Josh

[gottattooz]

I'm really tired of sanding, but I've got the hood smooth and ready for primer.

-Josh

[Madkidd007]

Originally Posted by gottattooz

I'm really tired of sanding, but I've got the hood smooth and ready for primer.

-Josh

So what happened to heading down to Florida?

[gottattooz]

Originally Posted by Madkidd007

So what happened to heading down to Florida?

The plan is to get the bodywork as straight as i can and then primer it. Then I'll take it you my friend's place in Florida where he'll fix it straight enough to paint. Then he'll paint it. I'll probably take a week off of work to get it completed. I redid my dad's 1959 Chevy truck there. It took almost 3 years to complete, but we were 30 miles apart. Being able to walk out back and tinker with the Jeep will save lots of time there.

-Josh

[Ol Blue K20]

Keep plugging away at it. Nice idea for the light too.....

[Southcity]

Originally Posted by ol blue k20

keep plugging away at it. Nice idea for the light too.....

x2 ^

[Madkidd007]

I mean it works, but you should have text me. I have a box with all sorts of LEDs

[gottattooz]

Originally Posted by Madkidd007

I mean it works, but you should have text me. I have a box with all sorts of LEDs

What's really funny is that after i finished making the license plate light and bracket, i was looking through my box of electrical connectors and i found a license plate light from a Jeep i owned probably 15 years ago.

-Josh

[Ol Blue K20]

Originally Posted by gottattooz

What's really funny is that after i finished making the license plate light and bracket, i was looking through my box of electrical connectors and i found a license plate light from a Jeep i owned probably 15 years ago.

-Josh

That's typical with anything. You find what you need after you've completed a task.

[gottattooz]

So i got the power window regulator wired up. It was a lot easier to figure our than i thought it would be.

Unfortunately, i have to remove the tailgate again to swap out the left hinge. It turns out the hinges are different designs entirely, because of the way they mount and because the weather stripping is on the tailgate on the blue Jeep and on the tailgate opening on the white Jeep. The blue hinges are flat and the white hinges are bent up on the white. So the tailgate hangs up on the left side. I have to pry up with a screwdriver to get the gate open.

And finally, I've been working on the body work. I got the driver's door sanded down and smoothed out. It's coming along.

-Josh

[Ol Blue K20]

Looking good, it will be painted in no time......

[Southcity]

Great job on getting the electric window working and the tailgate almost all squared away. You have a lot to be proud of with this project, thanks for taking us along for the ride!